2001 Buick Century vs. 2002 Smart Roadster

To start off, 2002 Smart Roadster is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2001 Buick Century. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2001 Buick Century would be higher. At 3,135 cc (6 cylinders), 2001 Buick Century is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Buick Century (176 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 95 more horse power than 2002 Smart Roadster. (81 HP @ 5250 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 2001 Buick Century should accelerate faster than 2002 Smart Roadster. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Buick Century weights approximately 635 kg more than 2002 Smart Roadster. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.

Because 2002 Smart Roadster is rear wheel drive (RWD), it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, it will be much easier to do with 2002 Smart Roadster. However, in wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2001 Buick Century, being front wheel drive (FWD), will offer much better control with better grip. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2001 Buick Century (264 Nm @ 4000 RPM) has 154 more torque (in Nm) than 2002 Smart Roadster. (110 Nm @ 2250 RPM). This means 2001 Buick Century will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2002 Smart Roadster. 2001 Buick Century has automatic transmission and 2002 Smart Roadster has manual transmission. 2002 Smart Roadster will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2001 Buick Century will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.

Compare all specifications:

2001 Buick Century 2002 Smart Roadster
Make Buick Smart
Model Century Roadster
Year Released 2001 2002
Body Type Sedan Coupe
Engine Position Front Rear
Engine Size 3135 cc 696 cc
Engine Cylinders 6 cylinders 3 cylinders
Engine Type V in-line
Valves per Cylinder 2 valves 2 valves
Horse Power 176 HP 81 HP
Engine RPM 5200 RPM 5250 RPM
Torque 264 Nm 110 Nm
Torque RPM 4000 RPM 2250 RPM
Engine Bore Size 89 mm 66.5 mm
Engine Stroke Size 84 mm 67 mm
Engine Compression Ratio 9.6:1 9.0:1
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline - Premium
Drive Type Front Rear
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Number of Seats 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Doors 4 doors 2 doors
Vehicle Weight 1520 kg 885 kg
Vehicle Length 4950 mm 3430 mm
Vehicle Width 1850 mm 1620 mm
Vehicle Height 1440 mm 1200 mm
Wheelbase Size 2780 mm 2370 mm
Fuel Consumption Overall 9.8 L/100km 5.1 L/100km